Black Panther, directed by Ryan Coogler, is the first Marvel production with a predominantly black cast and standalone black superhero and is therefore, with good reason, one of the most highly anticipated movies of the year.

The movie, which will be released worldwide in cinemas next week, follows the story of, T’Challa (played by Chadwick Boseman), who after the death of his father returns home to the isolated but technologically advanced fictional African nation to take up his rightful place as king, only for a powerful enemy to put Wakanda and the entire world’s fate, at risk.

After the first 50 reviews on Rotten Tomatoes, the Marvel/Disney movie received a 100 per cent rating and an early average audience score of 4.4 out of 5.

The groundbreaking film also boasts an aggregate score of 87 on Metacritics, which, if the score stands, makes Black Panther the highest rated Marvel movie, outperforming Spiderman 2 (2004) with its 82 aggregate score.

The New York Times said the film “creates wonder with great flair and feeling” while IndieWire has called it “the best Marvel movie so far, by far”.

Others publications such as Entertainment Weekly said the film’s “nuanced celebration of pride and identity and personal responsibility” was the movie’s “own true superpower”.

Business Insider noted thatBlack Panther arrived at the perfect time. “Like Wonder Woman last year, Black Panther is a project that fans have been waiting decades to see. And just like Wonder Woman, it was worth the wait.”

The film features high profile actors including Lupita Nyong’o, Forest Whittaker, Get Out’s Daniel Kaluuya, Angela Bassett and Michael B. Jordon as well as South African actors Connie Chiume, John and Atandwa Kani.

The movie will be released in cinemas across South African on 16 February.